Amphibian, fishing, lifesaving, and transporting device



P 1933- M. F. QUIGLEY ,927,952

AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet l 3 ME Uui7i7 Sept; 26, 1933- M. F. QUIGLEY AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORT'I-NG DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll-Fllillfi r p 3 M. F. QUIGLEY 1,927,952

AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 S p 26, 1933- M. F. QUIGLEY 7,

AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 26, 1933. M. F. QUIGLEY 1,927,952

AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 :Sept. 26, 1933. V r-1 QUIGLEY 1,927,952

AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 P 1933- M. F. QUIGLEY 1,927,952

AMPHIBIAN FISHING; LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1932 8 sheets-Sheet 7 m 1.. Y "M 1mm mmm'l'mlmmmll|||||||| Tram? l 1933. M. F. QUIGLEY 1,927,952

AMPHIBIAN, FISHING, LIFE SAVING, AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE Patented Sept. 26, 1933 g n I l Y 1,927,952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-[(IE 1,927,952; I Amnrmamrrsnmc; LIFESAVING, AND 7 TRANSPORTING nsvroa Mich e F. Quigl y, Port Richmond, N. Y. 1? Application September 3, 1932. .7 Serial N0. 632,2{

' 17 Claims, (Cl. 114-44) This invention 'relates to amphibian devices A further object is to provide suitable nets for that may be operated on land or water and will holding fish as wellas effecting the landing of V have manifold uses such as taking passengers off the sanie. a -f of stranded ships, troop and passenger transpor- A further object is to provide control cabinsas 5 tation, fishing in places hitherto inaccessible, and Well as an engine room and suitable connections 60 other uses. 1 y in the engine" room and pilot cabins'forcontrol- An object of the invention is to provide a deling the maneuvering of thedevice as well as the vice of this character having an arched frame raising, lowering ofthedecks, and other n'ecesfor supporting the device and adapted to straddle a 'y- Dowe p s- 1 large obstructions such as rocks, stranded vessels With the above and other objects in view the 5 and the like. invention consists in certain novel details of con- A further object is to provide dirigible tractors S'truction and Combination o parts h inafte or their equivalent for maneuvering the device fully described'andlclaimed; it being e s d upon land and water. I that various modifications may be resorted to A further object is to provide a central verti- W t e Sc p of the aDp claims Without 70 cally movable deck adapted to beraised or lo'wdeparting frflm. th p t Sacrificing 370 ered according to the height of the water travthe advanta of the invntibnr ersed. V a In the accompanying drawings forming part A further object isto provide 'a pontoon atof thissp fi a y i tached to the central deck and adapted to carry F u l is a Side elevation f v 75 with it the central deck in an emergency and Figure2 is a p n View; I transport passengers to land if necessary andalso I Figure 3 is a front elevation, r adapted to support the entire device in deep water Figu e. i a longitudinal yscfioflffiakenon and serve as a barge to'float the device until e 4 o Figure 3 with. P31138311 elevation,

5 the tractors again touch bottom. Figure 5 is across section taken onthe line A further object is to provide'a-pivotally mo t 55 of Figure 4 with parts in elevation, i ed passenger deck above the pontoonadapted to igure 6 is a plan view of the'center deck lockremain level regardless of what direction the ing and r le in h n device may be listed in traversing uneven bot- Figurelis a perspective 'view'ofthe charting 30 toms, or terrain. arrn controlled mechanism, f 4 r 85 A further object is to provide lateral idling Figure 8 is a-planview'of the steering mechawheels outside ofthe tractors for'supporting the nism of one *of the tractors, r I

devige level should any one of the tractors drop Figure!) is a detail section taken 'on'the' line into a surf hole or other depression. 99 of FigureB, v I i A further object is to provide charting arms Figure 10: is a diagrammaticview showing the 90 and wheels which extend beyond the tractors control mechanism" in the engine'roomff and yield when striking an obstruction or drop- Figure ll'is a detail perspective 'sh'owing the ping into a hole to sound an alarm or shut ofi brake for stopping" the motorand the'operative the engine prior to the device encountering the connections betweenthe brake and the-charting hole or obstruction. arm controlled lever, 9 5

A further object is to provide shields over the Figure 12 is a' detail-vertical section showing 7 tractors for plowing away obstructions to some the extension-deck operating mechanism,- extent, these shields being supplemented by Figure 13*is a detail perspective view of the guards over the charting arms and wheels for adjustable rampfthe same purpose. a I Figure leis a side elevation showing rollers A further object is to provide adjustable ramps substituted for the tractors, adapted to be used as deck extensions for accom- Figure 15 is a plan view of the parts shown modating passengers or bridging a plurality of in Figure 14, v a T J a the devices as needs may require. 1 Figure 16 is aside elevation showing large p 5O A further object is to provide a pile driver for supporting wheelsfsubstituted'ior the tractors,

building a coffer dam on the windward side of a and' Y ll Y stranded vessel so that when the device is res- Figure 17 is a planview of the" parts shown in cuing passengers the wrecked vessel will be pro- Figure 16. i tected from the'poundingof the waves until the Referring now to the drawings in' which like I.

55 rescue is effected. characters of reference designate similarparts permit the frame work to straddle large obstructions such as rocks, sunken ships, and the like.

tractor on its vertical pivot 23, as

The frame is supported at the lower corners by 1 I tractors i3which may beof any approved type. Each tractor is dirigible, as will be seen'by referring to Figure 8, wherein a quadrantrack 14,

ure 9, to a double cable 17, as shown in'Figure' 1, which, in turn, is trained over sheaves 18, as shown in Figure 5, and wound upon a drum 19, as shown in Figure 1;0,'whic h'latter isoperated by a conventional pilot wheel to turn the shown best in Figures 4 and 8.

Referring now more and 5-, it will be seen that a centrally located vertically movabledeck 24 is mounted within the enclosure oftheframe and comprises a pontoon 25 of suflicient magnitude to support and float the entireapparatus across deep bodies of water when the tractors cannot touch-bottom, and also to carry passengers to shore in case of accident. Thepontoon is provided with upright brackets 26 at the front and back, best shown in Figure5; Thebrackets are bolted toalongitudinally disposed I beam 27, best shown in Figure 4. A pair'of supporting cables 28 are wound over.drums-29gcarried by a shaft 30 which is supported in bearing boxes 31 carried by the girders-l2lso thatthe pontoon deck may be raised and lowered when the drumsare rotatedby suitableshaft and gear connections 32 which arev driven by the gasor steam engine shaft 21 througha clutch 33, as shown in Figure 10. w

. -;-Superposed above-the pontoon central deck is a pivoted central; deck 34 which is carried on a suitable-hanger 35 that has a ball and socket connection 36 with the supporting I beam 27. This superposed central deck is thus hung by a universal joint from thebeam aboyethepontoon so that it will remain level regardless of the list either forward,'back ward, or to the side of the frame and pontoon when driven over'rough bottoms in water or rough terrain on land.

, The pontoon central deck 25 is supported in any. desired elevatedposition according to the depthof the water by-sadditional locking devices to take the weight off the cables 28, as will now be described. By referring to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that a pluralityof spring pressed bolts 3'7 are carried in guides38 on the pontoon deck and engage vertical racks 39, carried by the up- ;rights 10 of the frame. The controlling springs 40 of the bolts normally hold the boltsseated in the racks'so thatthe pontoon will be supported by the racks. For withdrawing the bolts rack bars'41-are mounted in guides 42 on the pontoon deck and are operatively connected by 'bell cranks 43 to the bolts. A gear 44 meshes with both racks and is driven by a pinion 45 whichis operated by a hand wheel 46, carried by the pivoted deck 34, as shown in Figure 4, to move the rack bars and withdraw the bolts 37 from the racks 39 when the pontoon must be raised or lowered.

In order that thepontoon 25, pivoted deck 34, brackets 26, and beam 27, may be cast adrift as particulary to Figures 4 1 a unit in case of accident, the cables 28 are looped through eyes '4'? on the beam and secured by clevises 48, which latter may be unfastened to detach the unit from the cables. The pontoon may be power driven by a motor 49 to transport the passengers to safety and it is obvious that this motor may be used when the device is being floated by the pontoon in deep water for the purpose of transportation to and from a given destination. Downward movement of thepontoon and piv- Y oted deck is limited by a stop bar 50 which is secured to the uprights lo'bycross bars 51, as shown in Figure '4'. The stop bar is elevated sufficiently above the tractors 13 to permit the apparatus to be driven astride a-sunken vessel 52 of. considerable dimensions, as shown in Figure 3, it being :well known that around sunken vessels good fish- A pair of wheels 54 are carried by the Outriggers oneach side of the device and-these wheels are carried by suitable bearing boxes .55 which are rigidly connected together by links 56. The purpose of these wheels is to ride on the bottom of a body of water and on irregular ground when the device is travelingon land and maintain the device level in the event that one or more of the tractors drop into a surf hole or other depression. The wheels thus give-great lateral stability to the device as well as coacting with the tractors in supporting the weight of the device[ I I :To prevent the device from encountering obstructions or holes without warning to the operator chartingarms 57 are" mountedto extend in advance of the tractors, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, Each arm is substantially straight for the major portionof its length-and is terminally directed downwardly and equipped witha wheel 58 which-is heldwdown by a weight 59. The straight horizontal portion of the charting arm extends intoa guide groove 60 formed-in an upright plate by an obstruction to lift the arm or may be pressed back by an obstruction to move the arm against the tension of'the spring 62, in either case such movement being utilized to sound an alarm or A strong helical spring 62, shown in apply a brake to the engine by a mechanism which will now be described. v 1 By now referring to Figure '7, it will be seen that astand rod 63 is provided at the bottom with a yoke 64 winch is disposed astride each pair of charting arms on the same side of the'device between the plates 61. The stand rod is equipped on opposite sides with angle iron stop lugs 65.

Each arm is equipped with an angle iron stop lug Y 66. An arcuate rocker arm 67 is pivoted on a stationary pivot pin68 which may be attached to any suitable part of the frame work and the ends of the rocker arm engage the stop lugs 65 and 66.

Asa result, when one of the charting arms 57 is moved back against the tension of its spring by encountering an obstruction the stop lug 66 will rock the rocker arm 6'7, which, in turn, will lift the stop lug 65 to raise the stand rod 63.

As shown by Figure 11, elevation of the stand rod moves a bell crank 68, which is connected by a' link 69, to a second bell crank 70 which, in turn, is connected to a brake band 71 of the engineshaft' 21. Movement of-the bell cranks and link sets the brake to stop the engine and prevent; injury to parts of the device by preventing its advance onto the obstructions.

Should the charting arm 57 be elevated by the terminal wheel 58 riding upon to the obstruction the charting arm will pivot, at its end, in the groove 60 of the guide plate 61. most remote from the stop lug 66, at the point indicated by the numeral 72, and strike against the yoke '64 again elevating the stand rod 63 to apply the brake; as above described.

A stationary pin 73, attached to the frame. of the device in any preferred manner, projects through guide slots 74' in the branchesof the yoke and directs vertical movement of the stand I rod 63 under both forward, horizontal and rearward movement of the charting arm 57 and pivotal movement of thecharting arm. 1

To prevent fouling of the charting arms with lines and other obstructions, it will be seen" by referring to Figure 1, that fenders 75, in the nature of curved rods are secured to the frame of the device above each charting arm and extend above and over the charting arm in position toward off such entanglements as fishing lines and the like. 7

Likewise, each tractor is provided with a'plow '76 which is suitably secured to the tractorframe and projects in advance of the tractor, the plow preferably being formed of sheet metal of a general inverted 'U-shape contour and being of sufficient length to extend downwardly to the bottom of the tractor and plow away from the advancing tractor any debris, shell life, or the like that might clog or otherwise interfere with the effective working of the tractor at all times.

For driving the endless traction belts '77, of each tractor, it-will be seen by'referring to Fig ures 4 and 8, that across shaft '78 is suitably mounted on the tractor and is provided with a bevel gear 79. A shaft is mountedin a suitable bracket 81 carried by the tractor frame and is equipped with a bevel gear 82 which meshes with the bevel gear 79. An extensible shaft, designated in general by the numeral 83 is connected by knuckles 84 and 85 to the shaft '80 and a shaft 88 which is geared, as designated in general by the numeral 87, to a stand shaft 88, best'shown in Figure 4, that is carried at the lower end in a suitable bracket 89 mounted on one of the sills 11. The gear train 87 maybe proportioned or designed in any suitable manner to mesh with a bevel gear 90 on the 'lower end of the stand shaft. Tlie'jointed extensible shaft 83 transmits power from the shaft 88 to the shaft 78 of the tractor regardless of what angular position the tractor is ing; steered.

By referring to Figures 4 and 10, it will be i Figures 1, ,2, 3, 5 and 12,,it will be seen. that disposed on the uprights 10 is a platform turned while bewhich runs outside of the device and all the way therearound, and on'this platform may be located buildings 96 for "the convenience of guests, and for other purposes. side of 'the platform are decks '97, best shown in Figure 1.. These decks, when not inuse, are rocked upwardly to lie along 'theuprightsso' as to be out of the way, and when in use, are disposed horizontally, as shown in Figure 12.

whiohwill presently be explained. Eachsleeve Disposed out-v carries a threaded nut 103 which travels on a screw 104 that is connected by suitable shaft the engine shaft 21, and is controlled by'a clutch 108 that is operated by a suitable rod and lever connection 107 from thepilot house. Ro-

tation of the screw raises and lowers the tube to elevateand lower the corresponding deck 97.. 1

The deck is hinged to the tube 101, as shown at 00 97 in Figure 8, to be racked up out of the way or down to the horizontal. The object of raising and lowering the deck is to accommodate the deck tova'rious depths of water.

Obviously the frames 98 may be rocked on vertical. pivots to lie along the sides of the ,up-

rights 10 when itis desired to raise .thedecks so as to be out of the Way. For-raising the decks and for other purposes, a crane 108,-best shown in Figures 1 and 3, is mounted, on top ofthe engine room 109 and, as shown in "Figure 10, is-driven by a suitable shaftllO and gears 111 from the engine shaft 21, a clutch 112 controlling the crane and being shifted by a suitable rod andlever 'ficient'length and width to ward off floating debris which might otherwise enter the skeleton structures of the frame of the device and dodamage. Apivot pm 115 pivotally mounts the ends of each screen "to the corresponding frames for permitting folding of the screen along the frames when theframes are collapsed against the sides of the amphibian. r

i It will'be'ob'served by referring to Figure 12, "thatthe' deck 97 may' be locked in each vertical adjusted position by means of a counterweighted' dog 116 which engages the corresponding rack 102, heretofore mentioned. A cable 117, or other suitable connector, may be utilized torock the.

dog from the rack, it being understood that the deck tube 101 must be slightly raised, by the screw 104, to permit such manipulation of the dog. The dog performs the additional function of supporting the weight of the deck in each adjusted position. g

By referring to Figurex13 it will be seen "that a gangplank or ramp 118 is provided foraccess to and departure from the amphibian. The gang'- plank is adjustably supported at various angular.

inclinationsto the deck 97 or platform .95, as the case may be, by means of risers 119 which may be mounted'upon the frame work of the amphibian, in any preferred manner, andare slotted, as

shown at 120, to receive a, pivot shaft 121 carried by arcuate brackets '122-that are secured to the ramp. An inverted ll-shaped lever {123 bridges the ramp and is connected to the brackets wneed may arise. I

122 for changing theangularlinclination of the ramp,,nas desired.

It will be pointed outthat the ramp, above described, may be utilized as a connecting means between a .plurality of amphibians whenever such It is desirable, in rescuing passengers from vessels which may be stranded on coasts, to protect vferred manner, in the present instance, the pile driver being secured to one ofthe platforms 95';

Files may be carried on the various decks of the amphibian to be driven by the pile driver inthe .usual manner for building the-.coffer dam.

-1, may be attached to the crane 108 for the rescue A'life saving scoop 125 best shown in Figure of individualsfrom the sea or even boat loads of passengers on thes'ea according to the size of thescoop. Y 7 v The amphibian may also be equipped with a jib-boom crane 126 having a scoop net 127 which is, provided with a counterweight 128. Landing ofiish and other articles, as well as persons may '-ditions of service, will not be be effected by use of, this net; Preferably also a landing net 129 is pivoted to the amphibian for the purpose of facilitatingthe-landing of individual catches offish and for other. purposes.

[By referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the stand rod 63, which is operated by the chart: ing arms 57, is normally held pressed downward by means vof a helical spring 130 mounted on a vrod13l whichis operatively connectedgto angle iron brackets Y132 and 133 carried respectively by the adjacent frameupright 10 and the stand rod; -The purpose of this spring is to hold the wheelsof; the charting arms against too free movement by unimportant obstructions so that proper progress of the amphibian under all conimpaired by false control of the engine- I By referring toFigure 14, it will be observed thatrollers 134 may be mounted on the lower sills 135 of the amphibian in lieu .ofthe tractors able space between them for permittingthe am,-

phibian' to straddle vvrecks, boulders, and other obstructions. Each "traction. wheel may be equipped wit-ha gear 138 which is driven .by'a

, worm 139 operated by astand shaft 140 from the engine of the amphibian. Caster wheels 141 are secured to the sills laterally of the tractor wheels to maintain lateral stability and help support the appliances for the storing of bulk or protecting swimming spaces, and for the purdevice.

In both the preferred form and both modified forms of the invention nets may be supplied. as catches of fish,

pose of iliustrationl 'igures 16 and 1'7 show the use of such nets, the same being designated by onv the frame to be raised and lowered between l ig-ure it wines observed tically adjusted positiorLand meansfor detachmesh or other material suitably secured in, any preferred manner to the frame work of the device. Individual nets 143 may also be scattered throughout the area of the major net 142 for the purpose of storing individual catches of fish.

Inasmuch as the operation and certain of the various uses of the device have been described as the specification progressed, it is deemed unnecessary to repeat suchoperations and uses. It will simply be added to what has been said in the foregoing that the amphibian is applicableifor use under various conditions of land and water service such as fishing parties, rescue at sea or on the shore, transportation of troops across streams, accommodation of passengers for aquatic sports, and the like, and even as a dirigible hotel, as well as many other uses. What ,is claimed is; a

1. An amphibian device comprising a frame, a vertically movable pontoon deck supported by the frame, a swinging deck superposed above the pontoon deck, means for raising andlowering the pontoon deck and swinging deck as aunit on the frame, means for detaching and casting the pontoon deck and swinging deck adrift from the frame, and propulsion means-for maneuvering the frame. l v 2. An amphibian device comprising an arched skeleton frame adapted to straddle large obstructions, a pontoon deck adjustably and removably secured to the frame between the sides of the frame, a pivoted deck superposed above the pontoon deck, a supporting beam for the pontoon deck, a universal joint connection be-' tween the beam and the pivoted deck permitting the pivoted deck remaining level when the frame lists, and propulsion means for maneuvering the frame. a 7 7 device comprising an arched a 3; Anamphibian frame, dirigible tractorson the sides of the frame, power driven means for driving the tractors carried by the frame manually operatable means for steering the tractors, a deck adjustably mounted between the sides of the frame, and decks. adjustably mounted outside the sides of. the frame. v 1 I 4. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, tractors for supporting and maneuvering the frame, a pontoon deck adjustably mounted the sides of the frame, a superposed. pivoted deck carried by the pontoon deck,-povv er driven means for raising and lowering both decks asa unit, means for locking bothdecks in each-ver-v ing and casting adrift both decks as-a unit. 5. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, aplurality of tractors carried by the sides of the frame, wheels carried on outriggers at tached to the frame outside of thetractors for maintaining lateral stability of the frame should one or more of the tractors drop into a surf hole or other depression, power driven means carried operatable means for steering, thetrac'tors, and decks carried bythe frameabove the tractors and wheels. l

6.An amphibian device comprising an arched bycthe frame for driving the tractors, manually skeleton frame, tractors carried at the corners of 5 cal" movement between the sides of t he frame,

the numeral 142. The netsmay be made'of wire ppera veconne'ctions be weenthe motor and t e .n a c deck for raising and lowering the deck, and means for locking the deck in each adjusted position.

'7. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, tractors at the bottom corners of the frame for supporting and maneuvering the frame, means forv driving the tractors, means for steering the tractors, movable wheeled charting arms carried by the frame in advance of the tractors, and means operated by the charting arms for rendering the tractors inactive when the charting arms encounter harmful obstructions.

8. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, tractors at the lower corners ofthe frame, wheels carried by Outriggers attached to the frame and disposed outside the frame for maintaining lateral stability of the frame, charting arms movably mounted on the frame and extending inadvance of the tractors, a motor carried by the frame, an operative connection between the motor and the tractors for driving the tractors, and an operative connection between the motor and the charting arms adapted to render the motor inactive when the charting arms encounter serious obstructions.

9. An amphibian device comprising a frame,

dirigible means for supporting and moving the frame, charting arms pivotally and slidably ing or pivotal movement of the charting arms under impulse of the wheels encountering obstructions.

10. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, tractors at the lower corners of the'frame,

plows in advance of the tractors charting arms movably mounted on the frame in advance of the tractors, fenders for the charting arms, a motor carried by the frame, an operative connection between the motor and the tractors for driving the tractors, and an operative connection between the motor and the charting arms adapted to render the motor inactive when the charting arms are moved by impact with an obstruction.

11. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, tractors for supporting and maneuvering the frame, vertically adjustable decks carried between the sides of the frame above the tractors, vertically adjustable auxiliary decks carried by the frame outside of the first named decks, power driven means for elevating and depressing both decks to compensate for various depths of water, and means for collapsing the auxiliary decks against the sides of the frame so as to be out of the way when not needed.

12. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame, tractors at the corners of the frame for supporting and maneuvering the frame, a plat form carried by the frame and extending therearound outside of the frame, buildings on the platform, auxiliary decks carried by the frame and adapted to extend horizontally outside of the platform, a deck carried by the frame bea vertically adjustable auxiliary deck outside the tween thersides thereof contiguous to the'platform, a motor carried by the frame, operative. connections between the motor and the auxiliary deck for raising and lowering the auxiliary deck, an operative connection between the mo 'tor and the second named deck for raising and lowering said second named deck, and means for holding both decks in each vertically adjustable position.

13. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame adapted to straddle large obstructions,

dirigible traction wheels carried by the sides of the frame, a vertically movable deck between the sides of the frame, an auxiliary deck adjustably mounted outside the sides of the frame, a 1110- tor carried by the frame, operative'connections between the motor and both decks for raising or lowering the decks to compensate for various depths of water, said auxiliary deck being hinged sides of the frame, frames swinging on vertical pivots andadapted to extend underneath and hold said auxiliary deck horizontal, and a ramp ers operatively supported by the frame for preventing damage to the decks by floating debris, and power actuated means for adjusting the decks.

16. An amphibian device comprising an arched frame adapted to straddle sunken vessels, dirigible traction devices for maneuvering the frame,

a vertically movable deck between the sides of the frame, a vertically movable auxiliary deck outside the sides of the frame, and means for raising and lowering both decks to compensate for various depths of water.

17. An amphibian device comprising a skele- 139 ton arched frame, dirigible tractors at the corners of the frame, a pontoon operatively connected to the frame within the enclosure of the sides thereof, a motorcarried by the pontoon,

said pontoon being adapted to float the frame MICHAEL F. QUIGLEY. [L.S.] 

